Erma

Erma is an English given name that originated as a short form of names beginning with the Germanic element ermen or irmin, meaning whole or universal, a root also found in names such as Emma and Irma. The element was associated with the ancient Germanic deity Irmin and carried connotations of strength and completeness. The name gained steady use in the United States during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, borne notably by the American humorist Erma Bombeck. Irma and Irmgard are closely related forms sharing the same Germanic root.